Santino Quaranta taking a leave of absence

The rumour I've heard is that United is in serious discussions with new Chicago for a player of Argentine pedigree. Yes, you heard it here first - Santino for Filomino, a trade that fills absolutely no team needs.

Seriously, if we're thinking of trading Santino, which is probably a good idea for both team and player, why aren't we looking at a deal with a team out of the hunt for the playoffs and not in our division? Granted this is MLS and all, but would the Yankees trade a player to the Red Sox during the middle of the season?

 

I hope everything is alright with Tino and his family.

Maybe he going to be a part of someone's wedding ceremony.

 

Good luck to Tino, whatever's going on. Hope everything turns out well, and you're back with Unied soon, for a long time.

He's one of my favorite players. Kevin/Dave: even if its the best thng for him, please don't trade him to new jersey ....... that would suck a great sucking.

 

That was truly a dark day on BigSoccer.

 

I really, really hope we both keep Santino and put him out on the field on a more regular basis. For starters, I was hoping that he would start in place of Jaime against RSL. Tino and Esky could get it done. Jaime stunk vs. Chicago, and there are abundant signs that he is winding down his stellar career.

 

Actually as much as I am biased against him, I think he has shown better for Piotr than he ever did for Ray. I think Tino needs some one like Piotr to keep him focused (there seem to less (if any?) rumors about him having a bad locker room attitude like under Hudson).

Something (maybe due to timing with the injuries) just hasn't clicked for him here.

We would all like to see him do great things for us, but would you rather see him do great things for another team and possibly the USMNT or keep him here hoping that he will do great things? For whatever reason, it's just not happening for him here. I'd like to see him move on to a new setting so he has a chance to start over and hopefully realize his potential.

-dave

 

Let's hope he didn't die overnight or someone might be feeling a bit guilty.
__

Quaranta reminds me of Kerry Wood ... maybe just a change of scenery will do the kid some good, and Sachin has pointed out, DC can always use some extra cash.

 

Glad I wasn't around, then. But it does explain some of the other pettiness I've witnessed lately (DCU Dead to Us Ring is what comes to mind).

 

Tino was also hung out to dry by US Soccer and MLS, whose press releases were way too vague and abrupt in saying he was leaving the team.

The league and US Soccer didn't want it publicized that one of their teenage prodigies had gotten his girlfriend preggars so when Tino went to be with her when the delievery was near, rather than just come out and say what had happened, they tried to be vague about it and hope no one noticed and, instead, it lead to all sorts of the wild speculation that Chico referred to.

Had MLS and US Soccer just come out with it, there wouldn't have been any of the nastiness to which Chico referred.

The problem we have is that so often in the past, other US pro leagues have used a player missing practice and/or games for "personal reasons" as code for all sorts of less-than-flattering things like rehab and court appearances. So when we saw "personal reasons" for Tino everyone kinda let their imaginations go wild.

It appears this time, folks are keeping it far more in check.

Having said all that, it does, however, seem like something is up when he is fit enough to play reserve games but doesn't dress for the first team then abruptly takes some time off.

 

If Tino is traded to RBNY we are not getting Dunivant out of it considering he just got there and Arena is familiar with him and likes his game enough that he was called into USMNT caps before the cup. I don't know why they would get rid of one of the best left backs in the league for a guy who hasn't played much regardless of his potential. One in the hand is worth two in the bush. . .

Tino's career has been injury wrecked, but at some points in time he had a bad attitude, primarily during the Hudson Years of Darkness, and didn't play very well. He has a lot of technical ability, but I'm not sure if the desire is there anymore due to his injuries. It doesn't really matter that he was called into USMNT camps, and played in the Gold Cup since we didn't use any european based players anyway. Arena was checking in on his progress like he does ocassionaly with several of these young guys like Gaven and Mapp. He needs a change of scenery to get his mojo back.

 

I dig a pony!

Well, you can celebrate anything you want...

-G. Rex

 

Well, with a source like that, how could you argue.

 

What do you expect? That's a closer source than we get for most BS rumors...

 

Look - I've seen some (but not alot) of the talent that gets Quaranta such respect on these boards. However, I don't think he's ever going to be what many wish he already was. IMHO, it's a case of "What have you done for me lately - or in the last 3 years?"

 

1. Taking a leave for personal reasons could mean anything. A dying mother. A wife about to deliver a second child. Contemplating retirement after yet another injury. Could be joyous, could be devastating, could be relatively minor. But the key thing is that we don't know. So I think it's a mistake to assume this means he's gone from the team or it's necesarily due to some behavior on his part. Could be--but could also mean sometime much more trivial with no impact on his career.

2. Reserve sides or USL would have had almost no impact for Santino. His issue has mostly been injuries--the kid can't stay healthy. There have been other factors, but mostly it's about injuries.

3. Arena does like Quaranta. In early 2002 he grouped Quaranta with Donovan and DMB as 3 players who he thought could contribute soon to the USNT and mentioned at how Quaranta used his body more effectively than LD or DMB and adjusted to physical play better.

4. I can't see Arena dealing Dunnivant or Wynne. BA likes to play outside backs with speed who get forward. So to deal either of those guys would be crazy. I also wonder if TFKAM has the cap room (I'm guessing they would after the Peguero sale).

5. RSL and Ellinger might be another interested suitor should a deal occur. In any case, I think (if Quaranta is to be traded) it would more likely be for a draft pick or future considerations than a player.

6. I won't argue Santino Quaranta was a model in terms of attitude or work habits. He has been a teenager with a teens excesses and energy and workhabits. But he worked hard for this team when we could get him on the field, had very good results his first 2 years, has amazing talent, and keeps coming back from injury. Nowak praised his work last year--we all know what standards Piotr has for that kind of praise--it doesn't come lightly.

In a league with a cap, you have to look very hard at any player making over $80K. If that player doesn't start, it's hard to keep him. When he makes over $120K, he should be a "difference maker" in games. That reality leads to some very hard and callous decisions. That said, if DCU is going to be a threat in international tournaments, we need to be more than a good MLS team. KC has shown in the past, you can be a good MLS team with a few guys in critical skill roles and a lot of piano movers. But to make a deep run in international tournaments or show well at the World Club Championships, you need guys like Tony Sanneh on your roster--guys who aren't just good MLS players but have the physical and technical ability to elevate their game against a Vasco de Gama or U.Catolico. Quaranta is such a player.

 

I agree wholeheartedly with Joe W's analysis. Assuming he is finally healthy, it doesn't do him or DCU any good if he sits while others play. There's just too much salary riding the pine. But IF he's healthy I would get him on the pitch right now - and I mean this weekend. In fact, as I said earlier I would sit Jaime in favor of Santino. Jaime needs the rest and Jaime needs the minutes.

 

What Bootsy said. If this is really "family leave" and him not being traded, then he better not stay away too long. Teams, like girlfriends, tend to forget about you when you're not around for a while.

 

Of course, I meant SANTINO needs the minutes. I really should cut out the three martini lunches.

 

No need for anything that drastic

 

Me too. I'm going to start drinking four.